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Multiplex Therapeutic Drug Monitoring by Isotope-dilution HPLC-MS/MS of Antibiotics in Critical Illnesses
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Antibiotics and antifungals in neonatal intensive care units: a review

V Fanos1, L Cuzzolin, A Atzei

  • 1Neonatal Intensive Care Unit - University of Cagliari, Italy. vafanos@tiscali.it

Journal of Chemotherapy (Florence, Italy)
|February 21, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Neonatal infections are common, and antibiotics are crucial for treating sick newborns. Understanding local resistance patterns is key to effective antibiotic use in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs).

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal medicine
  • Infectious diseases
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Infections are most common during the neonatal period, necessitating effective treatments.
  • Antibiotics remain a cornerstone in managing infections in newborn infants.
  • Early- and late-onset infections in neonates differ in presentation and epidemiology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current antibiotic and antifungal treatments for neonatal infections.
  • To discuss the challenges posed by antibiotic resistance in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs).
  • To highlight the importance of tailored antibiotic strategies based on local data.

Main Methods:

  • Review of commonly used and rarely used antibiotic classes in neonates.
  • Discussion of emerging antibiotic classes and their potential role.
  • Consideration of antifungal treatments, specifically for Candida infections.

Main Results:

  • Penicillins, cephalosporins, aminoglycosides, glycopeptides, monobactams, and carbapenems are frequently used.
  • Chloramphenicol, cotrimoxazole, macrolides, clindamycin, rifampicin, and metronidazole are rarely used.
  • Amphotericin B is the primary treatment for systemic Candida infections in infants.

Conclusions:

  • Antibiotic resistance in NICUs may necessitate changes in standard treatment regimens.
  • Knowledge of local flora and antibiotic properties is vital for safe and effective neonatal antimicrobial therapy.
  • Prophylactic antibiotic use is generally not recommended.

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